How do I survive camping?

[Frazzledredhead]

Ok here we go ....... I don't like camping it's NOT a snob thing I just can't handle insects and the whole loo thing gives me anxiety! But I have 3 boys desperate to go. DH points out ( quite rightly) I got my way with nice hols last year and to save up for next year, this year it's camping.- Survival tips Please!!!!

We have always managed to pitch near the shower/ loo block, well a 30 second walk..and the toilets are lit up at night, so no prob. Dont drink lots near bed time, wee before bed you should be fine.
Most tents have zip-in bedrooms so if you keep them zipped up all day no creepy crawlies can get in, and obv you keep it zipped up at night too.
Try it once, guarantee you will be on here saying how much you loved it!
I can honestly say, i have never come across insects camping, just the odd fly like in your own garden, certainly no spiders etc, then again we have not camped amongst trees.

Take lots of warm things and always keep the bedrooms zipped up - I bet you all have a great time!

Only go for a weekend-2nights, that is all you have to survive! The toilets are much better than you think, and the bugs don't get in if you have a flysheet. Make sure you have the best bed you can get (lots of threads on here for recommendations) Take a duvet not a sleeping bag, and enjoy!!

Xpost-see, no worries

Oh, and take alcohol. It helps

Hot water bottles are a brilliant thing to have if it's chilly at night

Leave stuff to your dh, don't try and mimic the routine and catering standards you have at home.

1. Go to the poshest 5* campsite you can - there are some really lovely shower blocks out there, some even have dressing areas with places you can plug in your hair straighteners!
2. Get a big tent - being able to stand up is a must, and a porch area so the mucky stuff stays outside, and getting your wellies on and off isn't like doing a Houdini escape act..

3..Drink wine.

1. Don't be ashamed if you only 'rough it' a little. We even take a gas powered fridge with us... bloomin brilliant!
2. We always take 2 duvets (one on top and one below), and a big blanket and find it much more comfy than a sleeping bag.

1. It's not as bad as you are imagining, my style of camping might not be for everyone, and some might say its not 'proper camping' but frankly I don't care :-D

Be careful not to be too near the loos if the doors slam (and will be all night).

Have a no shoes in the bedroom rule, take crocs so you can slip them on and off. Keep the fly sheet zipped and no bugs will get in.

At most sites the loos are lovely - hopefully you will find this to be the case.

Take lots of layers for warmth and sleep in layers if you might get cold - that's horrid. Agree duvets are lovely if you can fit them in.

Don't worry about clean clothes everyday, DSs will be mucky in ten minutes so re use yesterdays.

Good luck and hopefully you'll be fully converted once you see how much those ds's enjoy themselves!

I don't like camping either...it is a snob thing . My rules are: one night only, the dog must come to ward off nocturnal visitors, we camp at the provincial park that's 10 minutes from our house in case I forget something I always do and DH must drive to Starbucks (also 10 minutes away) in the morning to fetch me a gigantic coffee. Good times!

If you can, take a blow up mattress! I only ever go camping on Duke of Edinburgh trips for the kids at the school I work at and this is the deal-breaker - I only go if I get a mattress! Oh and bear in mind you can order a delivery takeaway to a campsite, or eat out!

Take lots of wine! Actually, mulled wine is great at night outside the tent.

Get cheap glo-sticks, the kids love those in the dark and then your kids tent bedroom look like they have disco lights!

Did I mention wine?

Wine.
Chocolate.
Our boys seem to get through an incredible amount of cake/biscuits/pasta etc due to running around outside from early morning till night.
Unless your dc are angels, do not despair when they don't go to sleep ever as early as you would hope the first night. It gets better.
I put my leggings/t-shirt for sleeping in on under my clothes as the evening starts to cool down so I don't have to undress when it is freezing even cooler later. Our dc sleep in cotton AND fleece pyjamas so that when if they wriggle out of their sleeping bags it doesn't matter as much.
Its OK really, and your boys will love it.

I don't rough it when we caravan. I relax and do almost nothing all day. I have lots of cups of tea and talk to other campers. Dh cooks fab stuff on our cadac bbq - last time we had steak and salad and I made minted new potatoes. We opened our first (of many) bottles of wine, and started the evening off nicely. We have a plug in electric heater. Which bit sounds like 'ruff'ing it' to you ?

Honestly some of the shower blocks can be quite luxurious. The ones at the last site I went to had beautiful slate tiles with underfloor heating.

I only have two more words to add to the very excellent advice you've already had: Kampa Khazi.

I swear to God, it changed my life

Book a hotel room nearby ?

Wine and lots of layers.
Any Camping and Caravanning Club site will have divine loos but might be a bit of a stroll, they tend to put the hardstanding pitches for caravans nearest the loo-blocks. So unfair, the caravans have built in loos and don't need to be right by them! To be fair, most sites that are mixed caravan and tents seem to do this, not just C and C, I assume it's something to do with running electric cables to the caravan pitches.

Thanks everyone that is reassuring and some great tips the most memorable of which seems to be wine and chocolate both already in my top 5 at home!!!

Anymore ideas feel free - wish I could send u all MN supporters badges! Ta!